Monday, August 21st, 2023

Dear Friend, 

As summer comes to a close, I wanted to give a warm welcome back to our students and staff in Fairfax County Public Schools. As a reminder, please make sure you are patient and attentive while driving to keep our kids safe.

We only have one remaining Franconia Nights concert left, so if you haven't made it out yet, I hope you can join me Wednesday 8/23 for a performance from the Dave Kline Band from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Leonadus K. Plenty Amphitheater in Franconia District Park.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact my office. 

Email: Franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov

Phone 703-971-6262

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Table of Contents

1. Back to School Safety Tips
2. Franconia Nights Summer Entertainment Series

Out and About in Franconia (and beyond)

1. National Farmers Market Week
2. Crumbl Cookies Ribbon Cutting
3. Shop with a Sheriff

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)

1. In the News
2. Normal Library Operating Hours Resume August 28th
3. Elections Officers Needed
4. Public Safety Open House August 26th
5. 2023 Hurricane Season Outlook: What You Need to Know
6. Kingstowne Farmers Market
7. Metro Wants Your Feedback - Capacity & Reliability Study
8. Free Immunization Clinics for Children
9. Three Great Reasons to Go Solar in Fairfax County in 2023
10. Senior Cool Care Program

Back to School Safety Tips

As school is back in session starting Monday, August 21st, 2023, I wanted to share these safety tips with the community.

Fairfax County Public Schools runs more than 1,600 buses daily.And if you drive, there’s no doubt you will encounter FCPS and private school buses. The rules are pretty simple if you encounter a school bus with flashing red lights.

Drivers must stop in both directions, unless separated from the bus by a median. Please remember, it is considered reckless driving - a criminal offense - if you pass a stopped school bus unloading children. It is not worth getting to your destination a few seconds faster when you are risking the safety and lives of others.

Please remember to:

• Stop for school buses with flashing red lights on. 
• Slow down in school zones when lights are flashing; know about the speed camera pilot program.
• Pay attention to, smile and wave at all of our great crossing guards. 

Franconia Nights Summer Entertainment Series

This past Wednesday, we enjoyed the performance from The Nighthawks with over 250 attendees! On August 23rd, we welcome the The Dave Kline Band for our final event this season.



Supervisor Rodney Lusk and the Fairfax County Park Authority present the Franconia District Summer Entertainment Series' Franconia Nights at Leonadus K. Plenty Amphitheater 2023 schedule:

• August 23 – Dave Kline Band (World Jazz Fusion)

Franconia Nights at Leonadus K. Plenty Amphitheater are held at Franconia District Park at 6601 Telegraph Rd, Alexandria every Wednesday from 7:30-8:30pm.

Performances are held outdoors, bring lawn chairs. In case of inclement weather, call the concert hotline at (703) 324-7469 before leaving home. Cancellations are posted one hour prior to show time. This is the perfect occasion to bring your loved ones, dance, or just sit back and enjoy the night! I hope to see you there!

I was honored to attend the Fairfax County Sheriff's office annual Shop with a Sherrif event. Since 1992, the Sheriff's office has celebrated this event by taking school aged-children on a shopping spree. These children are temporarily residing in local family shelters. I was paired with an exceptional young man and we talked about his family, his interest in Marvel, and engineering. We were treated to lunch from Paisano's and then we headed over to Target for the shopping spree. Thank you to the Sheriff's office for inviting me and for putting on this event for our community.

In the News

Co-responders join FCPD officers during mental health crises calls | Fairfax County | fairfaxtimes.com

Lego Discovery Center opens in Springfield, ushering in new era for town center | FFXnow

Normal Library Operating Hours Resume August 28th

Fairfax County Public Library To Resume Normal Operating Hours on August 28

Fairfax County Public Library (FCPL) will resume normal operating hours effective Monday, Aug. 28. With this change, the library will be open longer, offering library visitors more time to check out books, attend programs and utilize the many resources available at each of their 23 branches.

Under the updated hours, regional branches will now be open:

· 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, and

· 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday

While community branches will be open:

· 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday,

· 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and

· Closed on Sunday.

The Access Services branch, located at the Fairfax County Government Center, will remain open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

In addition to the extended branches hours, the library is always available online through its many digital offerings. Cardholders can search the digital collection on Overdrive and its mobile application Libby, stream tv shows, movies and documentaries on Kanopy and access a vast array of research databases.



FCPL would like to thank the people of Fairfax County for their patience and understanding as it navigated the effects of the pandemic and staffing difficulties. FCPL is excited to once again be able to offer everyone a greater opportunity to visit its branches and enjoy its array of services.

Elections Officers Needed for the General Election November 7th

Fairfax County Office needs election officers for the November 7^th General Election and the 2024 elections. Compensation begins at $250 and training is provided online and in-person for new officers. More information on serving as a Fairfax County election officer can be found here. Apply today.

There is also a need for bilingual Virginia voters who speak Vietnamese and English or Korean and English to serve in the Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, and Falls Church areas. To serve as a designated bilingual election officer, you must also complete a short oral language skills assessment. More information on serving as a language election officer can be found here.

Public Safety Open House - August 26, 10 AM--2 PM

​Join first responders on August 26^th for a fun-filled Public Safety Day in the back parking lot of the McConnell Public Safety and Transportation Operations Center (4890 Alliance Dr, Fairfax)! This open house style event is designed to strengthen community ties and recruit future heroes for Fairfax County 9-1-1, Department of Emergency Management and Security, Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office, Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of Transportation, Fairfax County Police – including Animal Protection, and the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.

Event location: 4890 Alliance Drive Fairfax, VA 22030

Event time: 10 AM – 2 PM

Parking location: 4975 Alliance Drive Fairfax, VA 22030

2023 Hurricane Season Outlook: What You Need to Know

​Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, and several factors contribute to the formation and development of tropical storms and hurricanes. These include warm ocean waters, an unstable atmosphere, and low vertical wind shear. It’s interesting to note that disturbances called easterly waves typically develop away from the equator.

For more information please visit: 2023 Hurricane Season Outlook: What You Need to Know | Fairfax County Emergency Information (wpcomstaging.com)

Metro Wants Your Feedback - Capacity & Reliability Study

Metro wants your feedback on proposals to improve service and reliability on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines.

Metro has opened its public engagement and feedback period on six options to address future capacity, reliability, and customer needs on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines. The proposed alternatives, part of the Blue/Orange/Silver Capacity and Reliability Study (BOS Study) launched in 2019, include a set of potential infrastructure and operational improvements that will ensure quality service while meeting the needs of the growing region. 

Beginning July 17, Metro has begun to conduct a series of virtual and in-person engagement activities to provide information about the proposed alternatives and receive public input that will help Metro’s Board of Directors select a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA). Visit wmata.com/BOSstudy for full details about the proposals and how to weigh in.

The Board’s selection of an LPA is only the first step in a long process. The type of large project needed to address the needs and opportunities on the Blue, Orange, and Silver lines will require federal funding as well as support and investment from Metro’s regional partners. Recognizing this, the BOS Study is structured according to federal guidelines and requirements to qualify for federal grants. Projects of this scale can take ten to twenty years or more to plan, design, fund, and build. Metro and the region need to be planning now for our growing region.

Engagement Opportunities: 

Website: Members of the public are encouraged to review materials on the BOS study website, wmata.com/BOSstudy, and provide feedback on the proposed alternatives by responding to an online survey.

Online Survey: The public is encouraged to provide feedback on the proposed alternatives through an online survey. The survey, available in English and Spanish, will be open until September 30, 2023, at wmata.com/BOSstudy.

VISA Gift Card Giveaway: By responding to the survey, respondents may enter for a chance to win a $50 VISA gift card in a drawing to be held once the survey closes. 

Hybrid Public Meetings: In addition, the public is encouraged to register for and attend one of three upcoming hybrid public meetings, either in-person or virtually (online). These hybrid meetings include a live presentation by project staff, followed by a question-and-answer session. 

• Saturday, August 26 | 10:30 AM -12:00 PM - St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church Omega Room (408 Addison Rd S, Capitol Heights MD 20743) 
• Tuesday, September 12 | 6:30-8 PM - Metro L'Enfant Plaza HQ Board Room (300 7th Street SW, Washington DC 20024)

To register for an upcoming meeting, visit: wmata.com/BOSstudy 

About the Study

Metro launched the Blue/Orange/Silver Capacity & Reliability Study (BOS Study) in early 2019 to identify the best and most cost-effective solutions to address ridership, service, and reliability needs on these Metrorail lines. After conducting an analysis of the key issues and trends, Metro developed a broad range of potential options for addressing the study goals. Following two rounds of public engagement and extensive feedback, Metro worked with community stakeholders and local jurisdictions to evaluate and narrow these options to six potential alternatives addressing capacity, reliability, and customer needs on the Blue, Orange, and Silver Lines.

Click here to view the proposed alternatives.



The BOS Study is a type of study known as an Alternatives Analysis (AA). The AA complies with best-practices guidelines from the Federal Transit Administration and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This will allow Metro to move forward with the study recommendation(s) and compete for federal funding, while reducing the length and cost of any future environmental review process. The study recommendations will be based on data analysis, with input from regional stakeholders and the public to define the problems and determine the preferred solution. 

For More Information 

To learn more about the project, upcoming engagement activities, and complete the online survey, visit the project website at wmata.com/BOSstudy

Public participation is solicited without regard to race, color, national origin, age, gender, religion, disability, or family status. If you require accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act or translation services (free of charge), contact the project team at 703-683-7447, ext. 115 (TTY: 711) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve.

Rodney L. Lusk

Franconia District Supervisor